- J H Oosthuizen
- Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Private Bag X11208, Nelspruit 1200
- 1993
There is evidence that the first litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn) trees were imported into South Africa from Mauritius in 1876, but there must have been earlier imports, as litchi trees had already been observed in Natal in 1875.
From Natal, trees spread to the Transvaal Lowveld region, as well as to other suitable frost-free areas. Some of the trees in the Lowveld are more than 100 years old and are still growing and producing crops of more than 500 kg/tree annually.
The most important litchi-producing areas are in the eastern subtropical parts of South Africa. This area is divided approximately 50:50 between the Letaba/Tzaneen area and the Nelspruit/Hazyview/Onderberg area. The total area under litchis is about 2 500 ha, but the industry is growing rapidly with an estimated 199 000 trees sold from nurseries during the 1990/91 season.
Summary:
The South African litchi industry is still small compared to other subtropical fruits like avocados and mangoes, but it is growing rapidly.
Urgent priorities are developing early and late cultivars to extend the harvest season beyond HLH Mauritius, and controlling post-harvest diseases of export fruit.
The export market faces direct competition from Madagascar, which supplies earlier fruit to the European market; South Africa either needs to export later-season fruit or focus on the local market.
Funding for research, especially government support, is limited; this motivated the formation of the South African Litchi Growers’ Association.
The association aims to support producers with scientific farming approaches and recommends all serious producers join.
Litchis were first imported into South Africa around 1876 from Mauritius and have been established in frost-free subtropical areas, particularly the Letaba/Tzaneen and Nelspruit/Hazyview/Onderberg regions.
Approximately 2,500 hectares are under litchi cultivation with rapid industry growth and about 199,000 trees sold in the 1990/91 season.
Important research includes cultivar selection, propagation techniques, fertilization, irrigation, pruning and size control, crop phenology, pollination, pest/disease management, and post-harvest handling.
Current research focuses on evaluation of 13 cultivars and 10 promising selections across eight production areas, including those recently imported from Australia.
Studies on chemical growth regulators (e.g., paclobutrazol) combined with pruning show promise in controlling tree size with minimal impact on yield and fruit quality.
Girdling and irrigation management help induce flowering and control vegetative growth, but require further trial for best application.
Major pests include Mediterranean and Natal fruit flies controlled mainly by bait sprays and bagging fruit to enhance skin quality and delay harvest.
Diseases such as Armillaria mellea have recently caused orchard dieback; research and control measures are ongoing.
Post-harvest disease control mainly uses SO2 fumigation, but residue concerns promote research into residue-free alternatives.
The industry exports over 50% of production, mainly to Europe, but faces increasing competition and cost pressures.
There is a strong need for extension services to help farmers adopt modern, research-based practices.